Vaporizer.



PATENTED SEPT. ll, 1906.l

J. E. VAN NESS.

VAPORIZER. APPLIOATI'ON FILED maza, 1905.

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citizen of the United form of a I First, in the UNITED STATES PATENToirFron.

VAPORIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent. A

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed February 23,1905. Serial No. 246.960.

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES E. VAN Nuss, a

States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVaporizers, of which the following is a specification. A i

This invention relates to vaporizing and nebulizing devices of thatclass which are used in the administration of medicine in the medicatedvapor or nebule to diseased organs, more especially those of the nose,throat, and lungs; and the invention has for its leading object toprovide an improved device of this class whereby a much lstronger gas orvapor can be generated than has heretofore been possible and wherebyalso the essential oils of the medicine employed can be taken up andcarried over in such strength and highly-divided form as to be ofpractical value and efficiency through local application incontradistinction to many vaporizers and inhalers now in use which deorWeak vapor impregnated with littlemore than the odors of the medicinalagents used therein.

The device of this invention, in common .with many similar devices nowin use, em-

ploys an outer vessel containing a pungent solution, such as ammonia,and an inner vessel containing an acid solution,'such as hydrochloricacid, with means for forcing a current of air into said inner vessel,then conducting the acid fumes therefrom over into the outer vessel incontact with the ammonia solution therein, and thence conducting theresultant ammonium-chlorid gas through a suitable discharge tube ornozzle to the affected organs.

of the patient; but the present invention is distinguished from priordevicesv of this class in several important respects, as follows:

employment of a special cony the air and vapor conducting tubes of thedevice, whereby the air introduced to the acid solution is caused tocarry over more acid fumes and of greater strength struction of Y thanhave heretofore been possible of attainment, thus permitting the useof astronger ammonia solution, and whereby the acid fumes are caused to actsimilarly upon the ammonia solution in the generation of a --strongammonium-chlorid gas or vapor; second, in the employment of a flexibledischargetube having a medicated sponge located in an interchangeabledelivery-nozzle directly in thepath of the pure gas or vapor emitted bythe device, whereby said gas or vapor takes up and carries over theessential oils containing the principle of the medicine einployedwithout requiring the globule or globules to travel through saiddischarge-tube, to which it is likely to adhere; third, in theemployment of a glass or ar surrounding the gas-generating devices andontaining a water-bath in which the gas or vapor generated in thevaporizer is thoroughly washed and relieved of any impurities or excessof either agent prior to its discharge and subsequent medication, thisfeature being especially designed for the apparatus as used byphysicians, in which case, the entire apparatus may be convenientlypacked fourth, in the employment of vapor-conducting tubes and otherparts of hard rubber as distinguished from the glass tubes heretoforeused in such devices.

The invention also includes as an important feature contributing to itssimplicity of construction a cored closure or stopper which affords apassage for the acidified gas directly to the tube leading to theammonia solution and also a passage for the gas generated from theinterior of the containing vessel to the discharge-tube. Y

My invention in its preferred form is illus- -trated in theaccompanyingdrawings, where- 1n- Figure l is a vertical sectional viewwith the air-inlet and gas-discharge tubes shown partly in elevation,and lFig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the acid-gas-condueting tube of thedevice. i

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates an outer vessel, preferably inthe form of a glass jar, having an externally-threaded top portion 5a,to which is adapted to be screwed a cap 6, preferably of hard rubber,The upper end of the ar 5 is occupied by a stopperplate 7, consisting,preferably, of a hardrubber circular disk of considerable thicknesswhich is provided at its upper end with a horizontally-extending flange7, resting upon the upper end of the jar through an interposed packingring or gasket 8 and a depending eXternally-threaded flange 7". The cap6 has an internal annular shoulder 6L formed thereon, which when the capis screwed onto the jar securely clamps the in a portable case;v

TOO

stopper 7 to its seat on the upper end of said ar. l Secured to thedepending flange 7b is an inner vessel 9, into which extends a pair oftubes 10 and 11, both of which are screwed at their upper ends intointernally-threaded recesses or sockets 12 and 13 in the lower face ofthe stopper-plate 7. The upper Vends of tubes 10 and 11 are in freecommunication with each other by means of a horizontal duct 14, formedin and through the stopperplate 7 between the recesses 12 and 13.Secured in the stopper-plate 7 and extending` from the upper facethereof a considerable distance into the tube 1() is a smaller tube 15,which is provided with a minute axial bore 15, substantially capillaryin size. The lower end of tube 10 is closed, while the lower end of tube1 1 is provided with one or a series of minute a ertures or perforations11, Fig. 2; Securet in the bottom of the vessel 9, preferably centrallythereof, is an upstandmg gas-discharge tube 16, open at both ends andextending to something less than the full height of the vessel 9.Secured to the upper face of the stopper-plate 7, centrally thereof, isa short tube 17, having a reduced externally-threaded upper portion 17passed through the cap 6 by an air-tight joint, to which is attached, bymeans of a nipple 13, a flexible discharge tube or hose 19. Cored in thestopper-plate 7 is a rectangular duct 20, the short vertical portion ofwhich registers with the bore of the tube 17 at its lower end, while thehorizontal portion leads to and through the annular marginal surface ofthe.

stopper-plate, communicatingfreely at that point with the interior ofthe outer jar 5. To the remote end of the hose 19 may be connectedthrough a suitable axially-bored connection piece or stem 21 a nipple22, hav- 1 ing its bore somewhat enlarged to provide a chamber 22a,adapted to contain a medicated sponge 23.

Tapping the cap 6 is a nipple 24, to which is attached a hose 25,through which compressed air may be supplied from a hand bulb, pump, orany other suitable or convenient source of compressed air.

The outer vessel 5 is designed to be partially filled with water. Thetube 10 is filled to a level slightly below the lower end of the .innertube 15 with a suitable acid, such as hydrochloric acid, and the vessel9 is filled., preferably to a level slightly above the lower end of thetube 11, with a neutralizing agent, such as strong ammonia-water.The-sponge 23 is loaded with the essential oil of any suitable medicinaldrug, so as to impart to the gas forced therethrough an agreeable aromaor medicinal quality, or both, as may :be desired.

In the operation of the device compressed air introduced through thetube 25 and nipple 24 fills the chamber between the cap 6 and stopper 7,from which such compressed air flows in an attenuated stream, but withconsiderable speed and force, through the capillary bore of the tube 15,issuing from the lower end of the latter in a line jet, which impingesupon and penetrates the upper portion of the acid. contained in tube 10,producing 'a bubbling and boiling of such acid and generating acid fumesor gas in greater volume and of `greater strength than where theair-current merely passes over the surface of the acid. These risethrough the tube and flowing through the communicating duct 14 enter and'lill the tube 11 and by their pressure expel the amn'ionia-water in thelatter tube through tits lower end and issuing in fine jets or spraysthrough the series of apertures 11a thoroughly mix with theammoniawater, rising therefrom into the upper part of the vessel 9 inthe form of a strong ammoniumchlorid gas, which gas flowing downwardlythrough the tube 16, is thoroughly washed and cleansed of all impuritiesin the water surrounding the lower end of the vessel 9, be-

ing relievedv therein also of an excess of either- IOO tube 15 is sofine as to produce a strong airjet of an almost needle-like characterwell adapted. to pierce the underlying body of acid liquid and efl'ectthe generation of acid fumes of great strength. Similarly thefinelydivided and jet-like condition in which the said fumes are sprayedinto the ammoniawater effects a perfect combustion and neutralization ofthe acid by the ammonia, for which purpose a very strong solution ofammonia, on account of the strength of the acid fumes, must be used. Theincreased strength of chemicals employed thus gives an increasedstrength of resultant ammonium chlorid. The location of the entireVaporizing apparatus within the inclosing vessel or jar containing awashing and cleansing liquid makes a simple and compact device whereinthe cleansing fluid is capable of being renewed by simply unscrewing thecap 6 and lifting out the stopper-plate and its attached parts. In somecases it is desirable to administer the gas in a warm state, and thismay easily be effected in the present apparatus by supplying hot wateras the gas-cleansing liquid. The provision of a considerable tubeopening through its base, of a closure space between the cap 6 and thestopperplate 7 affords an air-reservoir at such point, which is ofconsidera )le importance as contributing to the uniformity andsteadiness of i the flow of compressed airl into and of gas from thedevice.

The several vapor-conducting tubes of the apparatus and, in fact, allthe parts thereof except the outer jar 5 and the inlet and dischargetubes 25 and 19 are by preference made of hard rubber, the benefits andadvantages of this material residing in the elimination of the expenseand waste incurred where such parts are made of glass, as is the commonpractice at present, and in the facility of coring the several parts,the sizes of the ports and passage-ways therein being capable of greateraccuracy and uniformity in their manufacture in a molded material likerubber than in a drawn material such as glass.

I claim` l l.' In a vaporizer of the type described, the combinationwith a vessel adapted to contain ammonia and provided with agas-discharge tube opening through its base, of a closure for saidvessel having an acid-containing tube depending therefrom and anacid-gas-conducting tube also depending therefrom, said latter tubecomiminicating at its upper end with said acid-containing tube through apassage cored in said closure and having its lower end provided with oneor more contracted discharge-apertures, an air-inlet tube leading intosaid .acid-containing tube, and means for discharging` theammonium-clilorid gas communicating with said discharge-tube of theammonia vessel, substantially as described. l

2. In a vaporizer of the type described, the combination with a vesseladapted to contain ammonia and provided with a gas-discharge for saidvessel, a cap surmounting said closure and providing .between the latterand itself an air-reservoir, an air-inlet tube communicating throughsaid cap with said reservoir, an acid-containing tube depending fromsaid closure, an acid-gas-conducting tube also depending from saidclosure, the latter tube communicating at its upper endwith said acid-containing tube through a passage cored in said closure and having itslower end pro-' vided with one or more contracted dischargeapertures, anair-inlet tube having a contracted air-passage communicating at itsupperend with said air-reservoir and dipping into said acid-containingtube, and means for discharging the ammonium-Chlor d gas communicatingwith said discharge-tube of the ammonia vessel, substantially asdescribed.

8. ln a vaporizer of the type described, the combination with an outervessel adapted to contain a gas-washing liquid, of a cored platecovering the upper end thereof, a vessel depending fromsaid plateadapted to contain an ammonia solution, a tube secured in the base ofsaid ammonia vessel extending inwardly thereof and open at both ends, anacid-containing tube depending from said plate within said pipe leadingto the interior of said acid-containing tube, an acid-gas-conductingtube depending from said plate into said ammonia vessel communicating atsai d amel-containing tube by a cored passage in said plate and at itslower end delivering into said ammonia vessel th rough one or morecontracted apertures, and a gas-delivery tube communicating through aduct in said plate with the interior of said outer vessel, substantiallyas described.

' 4. In a vaporizer ofthe type described, the combination with an outervessel adapted to contain a gas-washing liquid, of a cored platecovering the upper end thereof, a hollow cap secured to the upper end ofsaid outer vessel serving to clamp said cored plate thereto andproviding between itself and the latter an airreservoir, an ammoniavessel depending from said cored plate within said outer receptacle, adischarge-tube opening through the base of said ammonia vessel, anacid-containing tube depending from said cored plate within said ammoniavessel, an air-inlet tube having a contracted air-passage secured insaid cored plate communicating at its upper end with said air-reservoirand at its lower end with the interior of said acid-containing tubedirectly over the surface of the acid therein, an acidgas-conductingtube depending from said plate into said ammonia vessel communieating atits upper end with said acid-containing tube by a cored passage in saidplate and at its lower end delivering into said ammonia vessel throughone or more contracted apertures, an air-supply tube tapping 'said cap,and a gas-delivery tube passed through said cap and air-reservoir andcommunicating with the interior of said outer vessel through a suitablelduct in said cored plate, substantially as described.

5. ln a vaporizer of the type described, the combination with a vesseladapted to contain an ammonia solution, and a cover therefor, of anacid-containing tube depending from said cover, lan air-conducting tubealso depending froin said cover and entering said acid-containing tube,and a conducting-tube for the acid fumes also depending from said cover,said air and acid conducting tubes being madeof hard rubber and providedwith minute perforations for the discharge therethrough of air and acidgas in minute streams directly into tia'lly as and for the purposesdescribed.

6. In a vaporizer of the type described, the

ammonia vessel, an air-inlet' the adjacent liquids, substanits upper endwith IOO IIO

combination of an outer Vessel adapted to contain a gas-Washing liquid,of a plate covering the upper end thereof, a Vessel depending from saidplate adapted to contain an ain- Inonia solution, an acid-containingtube depending froin said plate Within said ammonia vessel, an air-inletpipe leading to the interior to said acid-containing tube, anaoid-gas-eonducting tube provided with minute perforations establishingcommunication between 1o the acid-containing tube and the ammoniavessel, and means to conduct the gas through the Washing liquid.

JAMES E. VAN NESS.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL N.l POND', FREDERICK C. GOODWIN.

